Little Beeches Nursery

Inspection of Little Beeches Nursery Maiden Beech Academy, Lyme Road, Crewkerne TA18 8HG

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children happily enter the nursery, eager and excited. Friendly, enthusiastic staff greet them. They provide support well, ensuring children benefit from good levels of engagement throughout the day. Staff are committed to creating a safe and stimulating environment. Children have access to a wide range of activities. The interactions between staff and children are warm and positive. This helps children develop a true sense of belonging.

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The provision is good

Children's behaviour is good. Staff use a calm and consistent approach to manage children's behaviour. They support children with praise and encouragement, helping to build their confidence and self-esteem. Children are aware of the expectations as staff maintain clear and consistent routines. For instance, a bell rings to signal it is time to tidy away toys.

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The provision is good

The curriculum is ambitious and well structured. Staff have carefully considered the sequence in which children develop their skills across the seven areas of learning. They plan activities around themes, considering the needs and interests of the children. For instance, older children engage in sorting coloured counters, which helps them develop mathematical concepts of colours and numbers. Younger children practise fine motor skills by using various tools in the water and sand tray. Babies learn to solve problems as they place shapes in a shape sorter and repeat the actions. All children are showing good progress in their learning and development from their starting points.

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need to do better?

n Staff have a clear vision of what they want children to achieve and learn. They work collaboratively with parents, gathering information regarding children's family life, interests and experiences. The designated key person for each child uses this information, in conjunction with their observations, to create engaging and stimulating activities that align with the chosen themes. Staff link with parents to ensure a seamless continuity in children's learning. n Partnerships with parents are highly effective. Parents express great satisfaction with the care and support provided by staff, as well as the substantial progress their children make. Staff adhere closely to parental preferences such as sleeping and toileting routines. They collaborate with parents by sharing the next steps of learning and requesting information about the child's experiences. n Staff consistently provide children with healthy snacks. In preparation for snack

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need to do better?

time, staff encourage children to develop their chopping skills on soft fruits. Children participate in creating a rainbow with various coloured fruits. Staff use this opportunity to discuss different colours and tastes and the benefits of eating a healthy diet.

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need to do better?

29 January 2025 n Children understand the importance of washing their hands before eating. During snack time, children pour their own drinks and select their food independently. They manage their self-care effectively, which prepares them well for school. n Staff support babies' emotional development well. Babies thoroughly enjoy the close relationships they have with familiar staff. They smile as they snuggle their key person and enjoy this special bonding time. As a result, babies build secure relationships with their key person and other members of staff. n Staff generally plan group times thoughtfully, with age-appropriate small-group activities that capture children's attention. For instance, staff use small-group sessions to enhance children's number recognition skills, both identifying numbers and understanding quantities. However, staff do not support children during larger group activities as well as they could. At times, some children

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need to do better?

become distracted and have difficulty maintaining their focus. n Children demonstrate significant progress in their communication and language skills. Younger children actively participate in song and rhyme sessions, engaging with enthusiasm as they choose props and mimic actions energetically. Older children exhibit a strong interest in listening to stories. Staff consistently model appropriate language and recognise the children's curiosity as they eagerly enquire about the story. n Leaders and staff collaborate effectively. They are committed to supporting professional development for all staff members. Leaders observe and monitor staff practices, providing regular feedback. Experienced staff members act as mentors to further support newly recruited staff to help them understand their roles and responsibilities. Staff report feeling valued and appreciate the support from leaders, who respond promptly to their needs.

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need to do better?

n Children engage in various physical activities. Staff support children effectively in developing both large- and small-muscle skills and strength. For instance, babies practise holding different play dough tools and coordinating their movements, with staff using terms such as 'roll' and 'squish' to guide them. Younger children build the hand strength necessary for writing by engaging in drawing and colouring activities. Meanwhile, older children enhance their balance and challenge themselves outdoors on large wooden balancing beams, strengthening the muscles in their body.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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should:

29 January 2025 n develop the organisation of larger group activities for children so they can engage and benefit from the learning experiences.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2700133 Local authority Somerset Inspection number 10368060 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises Registers Early Years Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 97 Number of children on roll 44 Name of registered person BTCT Trading Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01460 948085 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Beeches Nursery registered in September 2022. It is based on the site of Maiden Beech Primary Academy in Crewkerne, Somerset. The nursery is open from Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 5.30pm, all year round, except for bank holidays and between Christmas and New Year. The nursery employs 16 members of staff. Of these, 11 have a level 3 in childcare, one holds a level 6 and one holds a level two. The nursery provides funded education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about their curriculum and what they wanted the children to learn. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The children spoke with the inspector during the inspection. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation of preschool-aged children. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n Parents shared their views of the setting with the inspector.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

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Inspection activities

29 January 2025 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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